Weft replenishing and controlling mechanism for looms.



No. 739,573. PATENTED SEPT. 22, 1903.

. W. H. 'B AKER&'F. B. KIP. WEFT REPLBNISHING AND CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLIOA'IION'I'ILBD JUNE 27. 1901.

N0 MODEL 2 SHEETS-SHEET l WITNESSES I INVENTURS ATTORNEY.

' PATENTED SEPT. 22, 1903.

. W. H. BAKER &'P. E. KIP. WEPT REPLENISHING AND CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 27. 1901.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL ililiiiiliii WITNESSES: INVENTORSL ATTORNEY THE unems mass 00.. Pno'rpu'ma. vusnmumm 0 c.

n veasre;

. UNITED STATES Fatented September 22, 1903 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. BAKER, OF CENTRAL FALLS, RHODEISLAND, AND FREDERIC E. KIP, OF MONTOLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

WEFT REPLENlSl-IING AND CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 739,573, dated September 22, 1903.

Application filed June 27, 1901.

To (015 whom it may concern: Be it known that we, WILLIAM H. BAKER, residing at Central Falls, Providence county, Rhode Island, and FREDERIC E. KIP, residing at Montclair, Essex county, New Jersey,

citizens of the United States, have jointly invented certain new and useful Improvements in Weft Replenishing and Controlling Mechanism for Looms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanisms for automatically detecting and indicatingthe exhaustion of the weft or filling to a predetermined extent in the running shuttle of a loom, in order that fresh weft or filling may be supplied either automatically without stopping the loom, as illustrated in our United States Patent No. 674,154, of May 14, 1901, or by hand or otherwise after the loom has been stopped automatically. In other words, the exhaustion-indicating mechanism or devices which form the object of the present invention may be employed to set in operation a weft replenishing mechanism of a known kind, or it may be employed to set in operation a stop mechanism to permit the weft or filling to be replenished by hand, This latter utility is especially important in fitting up looms already in use which have no replenishing mechanisms. Hence we have not deemed it necessary to illustrate or describe herein any devices other than those for indieating the degree of exhaustion of the weft or filling in the running shuttle and for stepping the loom. Reference may be had, however, to our before-mentioned patent, No. 674,154, which shows a detector of this general class in operative connection with an automatic weftreplenishing mechanism. In our said patent it may be explained that the shuttle has an aperture in its side, which is normally closed by a wicket or movable cover, upon which impinges, when the lay beats up, a feeler on one arm of a feeler-lever, thus rocking the lever, and this lever acts by its other arm through intermediate means to prevent the weft-hammer from operating aslide which sets the replenishing mechanism in operation but when the weft or filling becomes 50 exhausted to a predetermined extent the Serial No. 66.184. (No model.)

closing wicket of the shuttle is displaced, thereby permitting the feeler to enter the shuttle. Thus the feeler-lever is not rocked and the weft-hammer is permitted to actuate the slide. It is not important whether the operation of the slide stops the loom by actuating the knock-off lever or Whether it actuates a replenishing mechanism. The purpose is to indicate the fact that the weft requires replenishing and communicate the indication mechanically to other mechanisms.

In the present case the shuttle has in it a normally open aperture or way by which at each alternate pick of the loom a feeler entors the shuttle and is not actuated; but when the weft or filling in the shuttle is exhausted to a predetermined extent a wicket or movable part in the shuttle interposes to prevent the entry of the feeler, the feelerlever is rocked and acts to permit the vi-brat- 7o ing weft-hammer, or other operating part, to actuate the slide and thus to stop the loom, or to set in operation a replenishing mechanism, as the case may be. This construction obviates the normal operation of the mechanism at each alternate pick of the loom.

In the accompanying drawings, which illus trate the invention, Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of a loom illustrating the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken in the plane of line 50 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing the parts of Fig. 2 in a different position. Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are views illustrating the construction of the shuttle. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the shuttle and bobbin, showing the aperture in the shuttle locked open. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of same, the shuttle being partly broken away. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the aperture in the shuttle closed. Fig. 6 is a plan of the shuttle as it appears when the bobbin or weftholder is removed.

1 designates the loom-frame; 2, the breastbeam; 8,. the lay; 4, the reed; 5, the knock- 5 off lever; 6, the shipper-lever, which when set free by the knock-off lever stops the loom;

7, the weft-hammer, and 8 the slide which actuates the knock-off lever.

9 is the ordinary weft-fork, mounted pivotroe interposing piece 25.

. spring outward, thus freeing the interposing ally in the slide on an arbor 10. All of these features in some form are common in looms. When the slide 8 is shifted it carries with it the knock-01f lever and sets free the shipperlever, thus instantly stopping the loom. It will not be necessary to describe or explain the operation of the weft-fork.

On the arbor 10, which is mounted so that it may rock in its bearings, is fixed a hookarm 11, which is held normally above the path of the operating end or head 7 of the vibrating weft-hammer 7, but which may be depressed by rocking said arbor into the path of said head. 0n the arbor 10 is also secured a pendent arm 12, and adjacent to it on the slide is a stop 13. Fulcrumed on the breast-beam at 14 is a feeler-lever, one arm, 15, of which constitutes the feeler, and the other arm, 15, of which constitutes the operating-arm. This latter occupies a position between the arm 12 and the stop' 13, being held normally up to the latter by 'a light spring 16. The feeler 15 is so positioned with respect to the shuttle 17 in the shuttle-box 18 that when the lay beats up under normal conditions with the shuttle in the box the feeler will enter an aperture or way in the side of the shuttle through an aperture in the box. It will not enter far enough, however, to impinge forcibly upon the bobbin or weft-holder 19 in the shuttle. When, however, the weft or filling 2O in-the shuttle shall have been exhausted to a predetermined extent a movable wicket or interposing piece will cross the path of'the feeler, and this piece will impinge upon the feeler when the lay heats up and rock the feeler-lever. The arm 15 of this lever will then act upon the arm 12 and rock the arbor l0, depressing the hookarm 11 into the path of the vibrating wefthammer, and the latter will actuate the slide -8 to stop the loom, as before described.

The construction of the features in the shuttle will now be described with especial reference to Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Mounted on the spindle 28 at 28, Fig. 6, is aspring-latch 23, which is over-wrapped by the weft 20, and thus held back into a longitudinal slot in the bobbin 19. The free end of the latch has a detent 24. On the inner face of the side of the shuttle is mounted the This piece or plate is pivotally mounted at26 and has a spring 27, which tends to move the freeend of the plate upward to the position seen in Fig.6 or so as to cover the aperture 22 and interpose between the feeler l5 and the bobbin. When the bobbin or weft-holder is full, the overwrapped weft or filling draws in the detent 24: until it takes over an elevated end piece 25 on the plate 25, thus holding the latter depressed, as in Fig. L, and the aperture 22 uncovered; but when the weft is exhausted to a predetermined extent, as in Fig. 5, for example, the spring-latch 23 is permitted to piece 25, which then springs upward into the path of the feeler.

The drawings show an ordinary bobbin slipped on the spindle 28 of the shuttle; but anysuitable form of weft-holder may be employed, and so long as a latch-detent is employed which will be displacedwhen the weft is exhausted to a predetermined extent and permit the plate or piece 25 to move into the path of the feeler the conditions of the present invention will be fulfilled. It is of course immaterial to the present invention whether the weft-holder is slipped onto a spindle in the shuttle or whether it is held in the shuttle between spring-jaws in a well-known way, nor is it material whether the slide 8 is actuated by the weft-hammer or'some other vibrating part. Where the bobbin is to be changed and there is no spindle in the shuttle, the spring-latch 23 may be mounted in the slot in the bobbin. In the construction of Figs. 3 to 6 the spring of the latch is designated by 29. e In the drawings we have shown the aperture for the entry of the feeler as formed in the side of the shuttle, and this is the preferred construction; but it is not very material where said aperture and the interposing piece are-located in the shuttle so long as the aperture is so placed that the feeler may enter it at each alternate vibration of the lay. It is only necessaryto this invention that the interposing piece shall not impinge upon the feeler normallyand that the feeler shall only be actuated and put in its abnormal position when a fresh supply of weft or filling is required, the movement of the feeler into its abnormal position serving to set in motion mechanism to automatically replenish the filling or to stop the loom, so that the filling may be supplied thereto.

We being the first, as We believe, to produce a filling-exhaustion-indicating device of this general character, wherein the feeler device is not actuated normally, but only when the weft or filling needs replenishing, we claim same broadly without reference to special means for accomplishing the results.

By bobbin as herein expressed we mean any known form of weft-holder adapted to go into a shuttle.

By exhaustion, partial exhaustion, and likephrases as describing the condition of the filling in the shuttle we mean such degree thereof as will permit the filling-exhaustion-indicating devices to operate the actuating mechanisms without making imperfections in the cloth.

Having thus described our invention, we claim 1. In an exhaustion-indicating device for looms, the combination with a feeler, of a weft-carrier having in it a latch-detent normally overwrapped by the weft or filling, and a self-moving interposing piece held normally out of'the path of said feeler by said latch- IIO detent, and adapted to move into said path when set free.

2. In an exhaustion-indicating device for looms, the combination with a feeler on the loom adapted to enter the shuttle at each alternate beat-up of the lay, of a weft-carrier having in it a latch-detent normally overwrapped by the weft or filling, a spring interposing piece held normally out of the path of said feeler by said latch-detect and adapted, when set free by the partial exhaustion of the weft and consequent displacementof the latch-detent, to move into the path of the feeler, an operating-slide, a hook-arm therein adapted to be displaced by the feeler, and a vibrating part to engage said hook-arm.

3; In a loom, the combination with a stop mechanism, of an exhaustion-indicating device comprising a weft-carrier having in it a spring latch-detent normally overwrapped by the filling and adapted to spring out radially when the filling shall have become exhausted to a predetermined extent, and a spring interposing piece or wicket held normally open by said detent, and a feeler-lever, adapted to impinge upon and be actuated by said wicket when the latter shall have been freed and allowed to shift.

4. In a loom, a feeler device situated exterior to the shuttle, a shuttle, a movable interposing piece carried by the shuttle and adapted to be moved into and out of the path of said feeler, means for holding and for operating said movable interposing piece, means 'for detecting the exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle previous to its entire denudation, and means independent of the bobbin for setting free said interposing piece.

5. In a loom, a loom-stopping mechanism, a feeler device sustained exterior to the shuttle and controlling the operation of said stopping mechanism, a shuttle, a movable interposing piece carried by the shuttle and adapted to be moved into and out of the path of the feeler, means for holding and for operating said interposing piece, .means for detecting the exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle previous to its entire denudation, and means independent of the bobbin for setting free said interposing piece.

6. In a loom, a shuttle having an aperture or Way for the entry of a feeler and means carried by the shuttle for closing said aperture or way when the filling in the shuttle is exhausted to a predetermined extent, as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In a loom, a shuttle having an aperture or way in its side for the entry of a feeler and provided with means carried by the shuttle for normally maintaining said aperture open and means for closing said aperture when the weft or filling carried by the shuttle becomes exhausted to a predetermined extent.

8. The combination with a shuttle-body having in it an aperture or way for the entry of a feeler and provided with a spring-actuated interposingpiece, of a spring-latch, in the shuttle adapted when there is sufficient filling in the shuttle, to hold said interposing piece out of the path of the feeler, and when set free by the weft to set free said interposing piece and allow the latter to move into the path of the feeler, and the said feeler, substantially as set forth.

9. In a loom, the combination with a shuttle-body having in it a movable interposing piece, the lay, and a feeler mounted on astationary part of the loom and normally out of the path of said inter-posing piece, as the shuttle is moved to and fro by the lay, of means carried by the shuttle and controlled by the exhaustion to a predetermined extent of the filling therein, for displacing said interpos ing piece and putting it into position to ime pinge upon thefeeler, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 7

10. The combination with a shuttle-body having in it an aperture or way, and a spindle hinged in the shuttle, of a latch 23, hinged to the spindle and provided with a spring 29 and detent 24:, of the interposing piece 25 and its actuating-spring, substantially as set- 12. In a loom, a feeler device, a shuttle having an aperture, a movable interposing piece which is adapted by its movements to open or close said aperture, means for detecting the exhaustion of the filling previous to its entire denudation, and means for setting free said interposin g piece,said filling-exhaustiondetecting devices being situated in the shuttle, and being'independent of the bobbin or weft-holder therein.

13. A shuttle, having a recess or opening therein, and a device in or on the shuttle to close said recess or opening on substantial exhaustion of filling, or exhaustion to a predetermined point.

14. A shuttle having a recess or opening therein and a latch or slide mounted in men the shuttle to close said recess or opening, and a filling feeler or lever to engage the fill? ing in the shuttle, and connected with or engaging said latch or slide to hold the same in an inoperative position, until the exhaustion of filling to a predetermined point.

. 15. In a loom, the combination with a shuttle having an opening for the entry of a feeler, and means for closing said opening when the filling on the shuttle is exhausted toa predetermined point, of said feeler, independent of the shuttle, and adapted to extend into or enter the opening in the shuttie, and conour names, this 24th day of June, 1901, in nected with mechanism intermediate said the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

feeler and the filling-fork, and said fillingfork to Operate the filling-change mechanism YY E 5 when the feeler fails to enter the opening in the shuttle, and said intermediate mechan- Witnesses:

ism. PETER A. Boss,

In Witness whereof Wehave hereunto signed K. M. CAPLINGER. 

